Care Act (ACA) is one continuing headwind.
Perhaps the industry is awaiting some clarity on what types of construction will be
most needed. Eighteen $100+ million projects broke ground in 2015, largely mirroring
2014 ( 17). Total starts remained flat ( 68 msf ),
but dollars rose 2 percent ($23.3 billion).
Market conditions should improve slightly
in 2016 as private financing becomes more
readily available and the ACA has another
year under its belt. Expect a 1 percent gain
( 69 msf ) and 4 percent rise in dollar value
($24.3 billion) (see Figure 26).

The big projects for 2015 included the
$750 million Memorial Sloan Kettering
Cancer Center in New York and the $540
million Methodist Hospital North Campus
Tower in Houston.

Public and religious

Construction of capitols, courthouses,
police, fire, detention and other public
facilities continued their decline in 2015
for an eighth consecutive year. In 2014, dollar values climbed 15 percent, but in 2015,
momentum slid back as square footage
starts fell to 15. 4 msf. A modest 3 percent
increase ( 15. 9 msf ) and growth of 6 percent
in dollars ($8.1 billion) is expected this year
(see Figure 27). Five projects valued at
$100 million or more broke ground in 2015.
The top two included the $275 million East
County Detention Center in Indio, Calif.,
and the $221 million Wyoming Capitol
Square in Cheyenne.

Amusement and recreation

Showing growth over the past two years,
amusement and recreation construction
starts grew at a slower rate in 2015, showing 4 percent growth ( 45. 9 msf ) and dollar
value gains of 5 percent ($14.3 billion) (see
Figure 28). A number of larger projects
were conversely smaller in size than those
in 2014. This year’s starts are expected